16 Sep Lessons from My Sabbatical

By Curt Yagi, Executive Director

Early in August, I returned from a 3-month sabbatical where I gained valuable insights into not only who I am, but about the organization I cherish so dearly—R.O.C.K.

While planning for my leave began well over a year ago, I was officially awarded my sabbatical back in November of 2023 with a target start date of May 2024.  At the time, I was elated, but knew there was much work to be done prior to my departure.  After all, in my 21-year career at R.O.C.K., I have never completely disconnected from my work.  

Over the course of the next several months, I hustled to complete projects while executing a plan to guide my colleagues to take on additional responsibilities.  I knew that my team was more than capable of covering for me during my absence, and while I was nervous as the time approached, I was confident that R.O.C.K. was in good hands.  And then, a funny thing happened.

The day before my leave, I was thinking that it would probably take at least a week to slowly transition my mind from carrying so much responsibility for over two decades to solely focusing on myself and my family.  Surprisingly, the minute I deleted work access from my phone, my mind was instantly free of the weight I was carrying.  While I love R.O.C.K. and our people, having a strong and more than capable team allowed me to completely release.

And, as a result of fully letting go, I had some of the best experiences of my life during my sabbatical.

While most of my time off took place during the summer when my wife and kids were off from school, I still was able to focus on myself.  I took several trips to the beach to surf where I often sat with whales closer than I had ever imagined (safely a couple football field lengths away); I trained in brazilian jiu jitsu, a martial art I took up almost a decade ago, but hadn’t been able to practice since; I created music and was even able to perform; and I tried acupuncture for the first time (it worked for me!).  

I was grateful to spend a lot of time with my wife and kids as we had the time of our lives.  I attended Eizo’s promotion from Kindergarten to 1st grade as well as Micah’s graduation from 5th grade–it’s hard to believe we have a middle schooler now!  We went on many trips including local destinations like Santa Cruz, Sonoma, and Bass Lake.  Our big trip was to Costa Rica as a family, a place I first visited around 30 years ago, where we swam every day (Eizo became pool-safe) as well as went on various adventures to see a host of wildlife including monkeys, scarlet macaws, crocodiles, and more whales.

When my sabbatical first began, I initially thought that I could get used to this and wondered if there was a way I could retire now (no, there is not).  However, as the end of my time off approached, I had a realization: I am at my best when I am driven by something in addition to my family.  R.O.C.K. gives me purpose and provides an environment that helps me thrive. Here are some key takeaways from my time away:

• I didn’t realize how much I needed a mental break from work, and I’m thrilled that our managers will get to experience their own sabbaticals.  I highly encourage other nonprofits to establish a sabbatical policy.
• I have an extremely talented team who I trust. Having a shared leadership model makes for a healthy organization.
• I need R.O.C.K. as much as R.O.C.K. may need me.  

I am re-energized with a new sense of purpose and am inspired to be back at work.  I am thankful to my Board of Directors who approved my sabbatical as well as my team (a special shoutout to Hanna, Gina, and Hayley) who achieved more than I could have imagined while I was away.  I am truly grateful and lucky to be surrounded by intelligent and talented people who help to make R.O.C.K. the outstanding organization that it is.